HBOS takes FTSE higher

Rolls-Royce has added 1.7% to 476p after the company said it will pay £500m to reduce a pension deficit. HBOS has risen 0.9% to 944p after Dresdner raised its stock rating to "buy" from "add". In Japan, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average advanced 36.6 points, or 0.2%, to 17,199.15 points on speculation earnings will improve on rising sales. Sony rose 90 yen, or 1.7%, to 5,520 and Tokyo Electron rose 250 yen, or 3.1%, to 8,220. Banks led declines in the morning session as some investors including Koji Uchida, who helps look after $47bn at Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Managementin Tokyo, judged rec...